Article attaching machine



May 30, 1950 J. VOLLMAN ARTICLE ATTACHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1948 ATTORNEY m m m m Wei/man May 30, 1950 J VOLLMAN 2,509,619

ARTICLE ATTACHING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HVVENTOR 0 04/9 06 Wailfiman WI T NE SS ATTORNEY May 30, 1950 J VQLLMAN 2,509,619

.ARTICLE ATTACHING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 f iy 4.

65 H mm i If EU I INVENTOR. Jon/a k WoZZmmm Patented May 30, 1950 ARTICLE ATTACHIN G MACHINE Joseph Vollman, Elizabeth, N. 3., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application June 25, 1948, Serial No. 35,121

11 Claims.

This invention relates to article attaching machines such, for example, as those used for attaching buttons to articles of wearing apparel.

More specifically stated, the invention relates to article attaching machines of the lock-stitch variety having automatic thread-cutting means, and it has, as its primary object, to provide, in this type of machine, means for automatically lowering the button-clamp, and the button held therein, upon the workpiece at the beginning of a sewing cycle and for automatically raising the clamp, to release the workpiece, at the completion of the sewing cycle, without leaving any objectionably long thread ends at the under side of the workpiece.

Lock-stitch button-sewing machines of the type disclosed in this application are old and well known, being recognized in the trade as the Singer Class 69 machines. A generally similar machine is illustrated in United States patent of A. F. Fifield, No. 1,529,020, March 10, 1925. This type of machine iscommonly provided with automatically actuated means for cutting the needle and bobbin threads at the completion of the article attaching cycle; the thread-cutting means being actuated by the overthrow of the machine after the stop-motion has been actuated to bring the machine to rest. Thread-cutting mechanisms of this nature are disclosed in United States patents of C. M. Horton, No. 807,676, December 19, 1905, A. F. Fifield, No. 1,442,141, January 16, 1923 and J. Vollman, No. 1,999,145, April 23, 1935.

An automatic clamp lowering and raising mechanism of the type disclosed in this application forms the subject of United States patent of M. McCann, No. 2,300,585, November 3, 1942. The button-sewing machine disclosed in that patent, however, is of the single-thread chainstitch variety and the upward movement of the clamp is utilized to break the needle thread, a loop of which is held by the looper at the end of the sewing cycle. 1

In lock-stitch button-sewing machines, as heretofore constructed, it is impracticable to sever the needle and bobbin threads by the lifting of the button-clamp, as those threads are not held against endwise movement and consequently raising of the button-clamp merely acts to draw off needle and bobbin thread without breaking either thread. Therefore, in lock-stitch buttonsewing machines mechanical thread-cutting means are essential.

Attempts to embody the automatic clamp-lifting means of the MoCann Patent No. 2,300,585 in lock-stitch button-sewing machines having 2 automatic thread-cutting means, such as disclosed in the above mentioned Fifield and Vollman patents, wereunsuccessful due to the fact that the clamp was lifted by the last upstroke of the needle-bar before the machine came to rest, whereas the threads were cut by the overthrow of the machine after theclamp, the workpiece and the button attached thereto had been raised. This caused objectionably long thread ends to be left at the under side of the workpiece, which thread ends later had to be removed manually.

This invention therefore has as another object to provide an improved work-clamp which may be combined with automatic clamp-lifting and lowering means and mechanical thread-cutting means and which will obviate the leaving of objectionably long thread ends at the under side of the workpiece.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, Fig.1 is a side elevation of a lock-stitch button-sewing machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the. automatic means for causing the reciprocating needlebar to raise and lower the button-clamp.

Fig. 3 is an under side view of the throat-plate of the machine and the mechanical thread-cutting mechanism carried thereby which is actuated by the overthrow of the machine after the stop-motion mechanism has substantially arrested the action of the machine, the parts being shown substantially in the positions which they occupy when the machine comes to rest.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the forward portion of an improved button-clamp which is used in combination with the automatic clamp-lifting means and the automaticthread-cutting mechanism.

.Figs. 5 and 6 are bottom and side views, respectively, of the clamp shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a right end view of the improved button-clamp.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary end view of the clamp, showing portions thereof lifted by the automatic clamp-lifting means and other portions thereof holding a button attached to a workpiece and held down by the pull of the threads, prior to the cutting of the threads.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the invention is disclosed as embodied in a Singer Class 69 button-sewing machine comprising a frame including a base I, a work-supporting bed 2, a standard 3, and an over-hanging bracliet arm 4 which terminates in a bracketarm head 5. Journaled lengthwise Within the arm 6 is a'main or. driving shaft' 'fi, having on its rear end afast pulley-F, adapted to bedriven by a suitable power belt, not shown, and a loose pulley L on which the belt runs when the machine is at rest, mechanism, designated generally as T, controls the running and stopping of the machine and the actuation of a suitable thread cutter hereinafter referred to, in the manner disclosed in said United States patent of C. M. Horton; No; 807,676,- December 19, 1905.

Mounted for endwise reciprocation in the brack et-arm head is a needle-bar 8 which carries, at

itslower end, ans: eye-pointed thread-carrying needle 9: The. needle-bar is reciprocated from theimain shaftl E; bYTZf'COI'lVBDtiOHEtl crank diskl02-andalink" H "which connectsa crank-pin lit, carriedtbythe crankedisk; with a collar 13 secured" upon" the" needle-banz- Cooperating with. theneedle 9; in.theiformation of. stitches; is a loop taker I. of the oscillating-shuttle lock-stitch type; Thisaloop-taker carries: abobbin: or 'lower thread t-"which; during the: stitch-forming cycle,

is concatenated with: an; upper thread a carried by theineed'le iFigz 8) Securedito. the upper: side of: 'thei'free end of" the. work-supporting bed? is a throat-plate i 3 whichcar-ries, at its-under side; anzautomatioally actuatedthread-cutting mechanism (Fig. 3) ineludinga:bobbin-thread pulleoff: blade at, a'needle thread pull-ofi blade 12, a stationarycutter--blade c and'acooperating needle-thread;cutting-edge d carried'bythe bladeb; The'bobbin thread'is cut by. aivertically disposedr-cutting' edge shown inv dotted :linesin Fig.1 3.2.-I1d: designated ase; This thread-cutting mechanism also includes aneedlethread nipper-blade which gripsth 'free end of the needl-thr'eadbetween the blade f and the underside or the throat-plate; adja-cente needlehole It in the throat-plate, andtholds it during the formation of the first. three'stitches of each sewing-cycle toe-insure the proper formation of.

the stitches and to prevent unthreading of the needle. As hereinbeforeistated, this thread-cutting and -nippingmechanisnris similar in construction andoperation't'o those disclosed in the above mentioned United States patents of C. M. Horton, A. F. Fifie'ld andzJ; Vollman;

The thread pull-off; -cutting and -nipping blades are secured-upon an arm I 5;journaled upon a stud 16' carried by a: bracket llsecuredtothe underside of the-ithroat-plate. The arm i5 is fixed-to andioscillated'2by aisegmental-pinion l8 engaged by' the teeth ofua rack: Hi; This rack'is carriedby-theforwardjmd of la slide-bar 202' At itsrrear. end, the'slideebar 2fiicarriessa stud or roller i2, which is engaged by-the forked arm l3'ofa'be1lecrank lever, the other 'a'rm'hi of which carries a pin 7 5;which'is'connectedwith'andoper-,

A conventional stop-motion ing plate 22 upon which the work is held. Overlying the bar 2i is a supporting arm 23 which has its rear end pivotally mounted in a block 2 see cured upon the bar 2i. A leaf-spring 25, also secured to the block 24, normally tends to depress the forward free end of the arm 23 and the parts carried thereby. Secured to the forward end of the arm 23 is a substantiall c-shaped lifting bracket-EQadapted to receive a roller or stud 5! carried by an arm 52 secured upon the lower end of 'a clamp-lifting rod 53 slidingly mounted in the bracket-arm head 5.

Means, generally similar to that shown in Unitedsstatespatent of McCann, No. 2,300,585,

NQVembe rS; 19412, is provided for automatically lowering the button-clamp by the first downstrokeof the needle-bar and for automatically lifting the clamp by the final upstroke of the needle-bar; during each sewing cycle. This means (see Fig. 2) comprises an abutment member M 'journ'aled on the clamp lifti'ng rod 53'at opposite sides of apinch-collar 55secured upon said'rodz. Theabutment mernber has-an actuating-arm fit projecting from. one side thereof and an abutmentfinger 5's projecting from the opposite-side thereof'and adapted; at certain tim s, to be swung above! and into the path of movementof. the collar E3: on the needle-hart; secured to: and projecting upwardly from' the arm isa pin Sd-upon which is slidingly. fitted, forrelative'vertical movement, theflattened and perforated end portion fii 'of a push-pull rod 59. This rod has its forward end. slidingly mounted in 1a:bore'in-th bracket armhead" and at its opposite end in a bearing formed in abracket 50 securedFupon-theside of'the arm i; A coilspring 610 surrounding therod 59 between avvasherfii' loose.on:the---r0d anda collar til-secured to the rod; -normally-- urges' the rodrearwardly, thereby swingingtheabutment member. 54 on the rod 53 to--a.-position.in which the finger E'iis out of the path of reciprocation 0f the. collar l3. The washer'tl abuts against the curved-side-of the arm: 3 and: is thereby held against movementto the'rightas-seen'in Fig. 1. A stop 6'3 onthe' rear endr portion of the rod 59 isadapted to engage the side of the brackettfl to limit the rearward movement of therod;

Secured; at diametrically opposite points, on

thecam disk D (which is driven'from th shaft hand designedto be rotated degrees for each complete button-sewing cycle) are two cambloeks- 64;- each having a leading 'cam edge. 64 and a trailing carn edge-tld During the"'operati0n'-of the machine and specificallyduringthe' last downstroke of-the needlebar in a button-sewingoperation,one of'the camsurfaces E i engages-the rear-end of the push-pull rod 59 and causes it tohe moved forwardly in opposition to thespring Site. This movement ofithe-rod swings the abutmentmember 54 to the position shown in Fig. 2 in which'the: abutment finger 5'! is arrangedabove and in the path of movement of the collar 53 on the needle-bar." As the needleapproaches its uppermost position,

on -its final upstroke, the collar is engages the under side of the finger thereby' lifting the abutment member od which, in turn, lifts-the rod-53; arm 52 and finally the 23 of thebutton'eclampa'nd certain ones ofthe parts carried thereby-.-

Upon starting the machine fer' the next cycle of operation; the initial portion of the first downward movementof the needle bar is accompanied by a similar downward movement of the abut ment member 54, the rod 53 and the buttonclamp, to place a new button on the work. Before the collar |3 has reached the level of the abutment finger 51, in the first upstroke of the needle-bar, the cam-block 64 passes from beneath the end of the rod 56 and the spring 6|! shifts the rod rearwardly, thereby swinging the abutment member 54 clockwise, as viewed in plan. This removes the abutment finger 51 from the path of movement of the collar |3 on the needle-bar which may then be reciprocated, without affecting the clamp-lifting mechanism, until the last upstroke of the needle-bar, as above described.

As explained in said McCann Patent No. 2,300,585, in single-thread chain-stitch buttonsewing machines the upward movement of the button-clamp is used to sever the sewing thread. As above stated the threads of a two-thread lockstitch button-sewing machine cannot be broken by merely lifting the button-clamp, it being necessary to employ mechanically actuated knives for severing the needle and bobbin threads and for nipping the needle thread to insure starting of the next sewing cycle. It was found that when applying the automatic clamp-lifting means to a twc-thread lock-stitch machine, in which the thread-cutters were actuated by the overthrow of the machine after the last upstroke of the needle-bar, the button-clamp and the button B held therein (which had then been attached to the workpiece W) would be lifted above the work-supporting plate of the clamp with relatlvely long threads depending below the work and surrounding the thread pull-off blades. When the thread-cutters were actuated, by the overthrow of the machine, they would sever the threads below the under side of the throat-plate, thereby leaving objectionably long thread-ends projecting from the under side of the work, which thread-ends had to be removed manually.

I finally conceived the idea of combining with theautomatic clamp-lifting means and the mechanically actuated thread-cutting means a novel form of button-clamp which permits the major portion of the button-clamp to be raised by the last upstroke of the needle but which permits the button and the workpiece to retain their positions relative to the stitch-forming and thread-cutting mechanisms until after the thread-cutting mechanism has been actuated to sever the threads close to the under side of the workpiece, after which the remaining portion of the work-clamp and the button and the workpiece attached thereto also are raised automatically to permit removal of the workpiece with its attached button and the insertion of a new workpiece and another button.

The improved button-clamp comprises, in addition to the bar 2|, work-supporting plate 22 and arm 23, hereinbefore mentioned, a pair of pressermembers 26, 21 pivotally mounted at :r on the arm 23 and having, at their forward ends, opposed presser-feet 26 and 21 respectively. The forward ends of the arms 26 and 21 are normally urged toward each other by the action of a coil spring 28 having one end fastened to a screw 29, threaded into the arm 23, and its other end connected to a screw 36 threaded into a bar 3|, slidingly mounted in a slot 32 formed in the sup porting arm 23. Attached to the under side of the bar 3| is a slide-plate 33 having converging slots 34 and down-turned thumb-pieces 35. Pins 36 projecting downwardly from the arms 26 and 21 enter the slots 34, whereby rearward movement of the slide-plate 33 causes the arms 26 and 21 to be separated, in opposition to the spring 28. An

adjustable lever 31, fulcrumed on a screw 38 and held in adjusted positions by a clamp screw 39, serves as an abutment for the screw 39 to limit the closing of the presser-arms 26, 21.. The forward end 3W of the bar 3| is turned down and has a portion 3| which overlies a button held between suitable clamp jaws, later to be described, to prevent upward movement of the rear edge of the button. Also secured to the under side of the slide-bar 3|, by a screw 40, is a sheet metal arm 4| which has its forward end portion 4| underlying the portion 3 l of the bar 3|. The end portion 4| is formed with diverging walls 4| which serve as an abutment to limit the inward movement of the button when it is inserted into the clamp jaws.

In button-clamps as heretofore constructed, the buttons were supported and clamped by jaws provided by arms generally similar to the above mentioned arms 26 and 21 and therefore lifting of the supporting arm 23 effected lifting of the button.

In the present improved clamp the buttons are supported and clamped wholly independently of the arms 25 and 21 thereby permitting the major portion of the button-clamp to be raised automatically during the final upward movement of the needle-bar without raising the work W or the button B which are held depressed by the loop of needle thread which is then held by the loop-taker L. Secured to the under side of the arms 26 and 21, at the rear ends thereof, by screws 42, are two spring arms 43 and 44, respe gtively, Each of the arms 43 and 44 extends forwardly and downwardly and provides, beneath the presser-feet 26 and 21 a horizontally disposed work-depressing and button-supporting seat 45. The arms 43 and 44 also carry upwardly inclined and rearwardl diverging button-gripping jaws 46 which normally engage and are pressed downwardly by the presser-feet 26 and 21 The jaws 45 and the flange 4| afford between them a button-locating cavity, the walls of which have a three-point contact with the buttons. The rearward divergence of the jaws 46 tends to force the buttons inwardly into contact with the abutment flange 4| A metal strap member 41, secured to the spring arm 43 by a screw 48, has a loop portion 41 which slidingly engages the spring arm 44. This strap member holds the arms 43 and 44 against relative vertical movement but permits relative horizontal movement therebetween. The strap member 41 has a raised mid-portion 41 which overlies the forward down-turned portion 3| of the arm 3| and which permits raising of that arm with the pl'esser-arms 26 and 21 relative to the arms 43 and 44. A thin plate 49 secured to the under side of the arm 4| underlies the spring arms 43 and 44 and prevents relative vertical movement between those three arms.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that this invention has combined in a lock-stitch button-sewing machine having an automatically actuated thread-cutter and an automatic clampactuating mechanism adapted to lower the button-clamp by the first downstroke of the needlebar and to raise the major portion of the buttonclamp by the last upstroke of the needle-bar, in each sewing cycle. It will also be apparent that this invention has combined with the automatic thread-cutting and clamp-actuating means an improved form of button-clamp which permits the major portion of the clamp to be lifted before the needle thread it and the bobbin thread t 'p leeele d are e and he. ad cu tin eh n m he eby th t reeqeea ei set c ese e the e' ee dede th a ter-Whi h thesve an sl te ba en s arelra eeiere s p t. .rtlfier neathushset, i thflhe nature of the e ti n w atl la m here 1S l l n n article v attaching machine having in nis ca :ri i-.- by s rame a d. nr lud nefl -re .,-..c.iproc a ne dle-b ne th a rryin ee l se ured; xs idlxieallea r. nd e th eadr? .inalQQnak e onerat new th. denee e n th formation of lock-stitches; an ,ar ticle holding amp .nou tedlon..sa r and -liab e Y .tica y r lativ her tonsaiicll amp com in two re atively .mevable p rt e sl o s n ar c eholding,portion adapted to ,hold an, article in the wpathlofvlreciprocation of the needle and the other a presser portion adapted to press the article- ;holdinghpor tion upon an underlying workpiece; thread-cuttingmeans located between said loopta ker and.,said clamp; means actuated byvthe final upstrokeloil the needle-bar in asewing. cycle ..t0.,lift;the presserportion of the clamp relative .110 theuarticle-vholdifng p rtion; and means therelaftertonactuate said thread-cutting ,means to ,cause it; to, sever thesewing threads close to the under side of/the workpiece. v

2..An; article attaching machine, having in combination a frame; stitch iormingmechanism carried byjsaid frame and inchgdinga reciproc t n needle-hart a t dfl e ry gln dle e" .cured in said needle-bar, and .athread-carrying' looptaker cooperating withsaid needle in the formation of lock-stitches; an article-holding cla p i duntedon i frame a d mevebl rt t-ea yre a ivelth et i sa d clamp ompr et e vyv m tab ort c e-en r i l -hel ing portionadapted to hold an articlein the path le i re o a i n 9f :th un q l an th t e a presser; portion adapted to press the article holdingr p ortion, upon an. underlying workpiece;

,ee 'wett i nclq et ,b twe nl idflbepv akei' andsaid liamp; automatic means actuated aftheefid pf the xs ewing cycle to liftthe .pr esser t 1 "1e-l"1 61d :i a isfflafeld depressed hyrthe sew ng thr e ad; s thr afterto'actuatesaidthreacl ci tt the innderiside ofthe iiro rlip'iece ination, a'fra rne stitchforniingmechanism e r -he e rt o i n n e l i orkholding' portion con'iprising a s secnredito the under side" of le ent d. sfa m ca in icle-sup-p'ort'i'ng plates and opposed article- We o pr n cl'ani'p ing jawsj thread-cutting'Eme'ans' located below 'saiicl'a'rti'ele holding clamp; means actuated bythe final upstroke of the'needle-bar in a sewingcycle to lift the presser elements of the clamp relative to the article-holding portion While said' e fmelfei l i ib fi i l' i s ed sewing threads;, andli ieansf thereafter to actuate sai i "eee q iieelneef eteQ u l t-te tb sewing threads close to the underside ofthe'worke m 3. ilw hl i v v anti-t i n al e e et l lir'e t d l e ente mo em t in w e hawi win eeteth Press -el en aie he ,me m ts herewit wh qh mee se proyide d ior f eventingrelative vertical movee etwe n eid'ep ne ie 4 n wid attach n lm eh ee as set t "thin rele m- HielWhiQ the Pre ments.er YQtva l 2 e te1. ier O ea dir e-h ei i cr men s; whi evrheem ar i Q-Q Q 1 thec eee ?,1. mn I9 r m l p lt meve e st eie kith en ii t hi h membe r d 9. 16 of se p .in a m -the e i 69; P on li ie l en e ea he th r e ieeierm t pemnit et he z nta mh ement etween said arms hntto prevent relative vertical movett em etwee wea;l 1 -ee a i vef itee mew h n hey naji em inet qe reree; rr ter sh t. 11 mate t i ti h f r in e h niemeee ie b said frarne and inch ding a, reciprocating needlein ac tuated M v bait athread-carrying e e e ed i field; eee rb tend; a th eat te ered-ta e .e e et n th seiq ne dl in the fprmation of lgck stitchjes aid automatisally. actuated sto p mot ion device to control the 1 .re eii e re? "Said sha an .e ielei9 ie idam imp ifi on ,1. H r ti to l e we e ai ie m c m si w, elaiii 1 1, mey ble t eee. (me an a t cl -wh ne P rtion i -i0 eo eee it ler n. th f a h, 9 reciprocat oigthe-needle and the otherapresser portion adapted to,plfessltheartic portion neon: annnderlying workpiece 4 ,ciittin ineans' located below the artic e-holding Qportionfofv said clamp means i actuated by the ifi'nal' upstroke of the needleh arin a sewing cycle to liftthepresser oition of the clanip whileisaid e e e in m 1 i li e teie ddie 9 1 m Wi k e'e see in ee' eo tt f tl y em 1 evi e the ea te t e teet eei thi ead-cntting means to; canse, it tel-sever, the sewing threads "close to the nnder side of the wor piece.

r fra'rne stitch-forming mechanisin carried pj said nam and I'ineluding'a reciprocating needlepar, a] h eed;qe ihg dl i eewedj n s drn e banand a thread-carrying loop-t her cooperating with 7 said needle in the formation of lockl 's t ift'chesha worigholding clainp inonnted. onisaid frame and movable veitically rl i ethiem, I said: clamp compris'ingfja in ork sn oporting a of s p'ri'n g arms located: above said worksup ting platen" (1. having biitton hgqlding jaws ,ad'a ted tof holdfiajpiitto .in' the path f ifl 9 the 11 9 e eb b l ee ggresser rnenibers1.locatedfabove isaidspring; arir ns and adapted ,to press: said arinsiifpon a wdikpie'e locatedonsaiol'worl sii15portingblate. a Q 3 @39 1; ia hii ei meme havin am st h-fami e mech m C rri d by said frame and inclnding a reciprocating needle-bar,

threacl-carrying needle secured, in saidv needlebar, and a threadecarrying.loopgtaker cooperating with said needle in "the formation of lockstitches; a work -holding cla nip mountedonsaid 75 frame and movable vertically relative thereto.

said clamp comprising a work-supporting plate, a pair of spring arms located above said worksupporting plate, said arms having rearwardly diverging and opposed button-holding jaws, a button stop located between said jaws adjacent the rear end thereof, a member secured to one of said arms and embracing the other arm to prevent relative vertical movements between said arms, and a pair of spring-depressed presser members bearing upon said spring arms to press them into clamping contact with a workpiece located on said work-supporting plate.

9. In a button-sewing machine, including stitch-forming mechanism, thread-cutting mechanism, a stop-motion device, and means operated by said stop-motion device for actuating said thread-cutting mechanism to sever the sewing threads, in combination, a button-holding clamp, a presser member, and automatic means for lifting said presser member at the completion of a stitching cycle and prior to the actuation of said thread-cutting mechanism without disturbing the position of the button-holding clamp.

10. A button clamp for sewing machines, comprising a supporting arm, presser members carried by said arm and having opposed extremities, yielding button-supporting arms carried. by said presser members, and a stop located intermediate the opposed extremities of said presser members and having an overhanging button-engaging lip and divergent button-engaging walls.

11. A button clamp for sewing machines, comprising a supporting arm, presser members carried by said arm and having opposed extremities terminatin in vertically inclined and rearwardly divergent walls, and yieldin button-supporting arms carried by said presser members and termi nating in inturned ends having upstanding and rearwardly diverging button-engaging walls and button-supporting ledges disposed between the extremities of said work-pressing members.

JOSEPH VOLLMAN.

No references cited. 

